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Document ID (ISN)100582
CIS number 02-1742
ISBN(s) 0-7176-2537-0
Year 2002
Convention or series no. HSE Research Report RR 007
Author(s) Durham S., Heasman T.
Health and Safety Executive
Title Manual handling in the food/drink industries - Injury rate v weight of unit loads lifted
Bibliographic information HSE Books, P.O. Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2WA, United Kingdom, 2002. iv, 30p. Illus. Price: GBP 15.00.
Abstract Statistics indicate that some food sector industries where heavy loads are handled (such as brewing) have a higher manual handling injury rate than others (such as the dairy and soft drink industries). The aim of this study was to verify this finding and to determine a statistical correlation between loads lifted (light and heavy sacks) and manual handling injuries or absences due to injury. The study consisted of a review of the literature and the conducting of phone interviews of selected workers at food and drink company sites. It was found that most injuries involved weights of 1-10kg, classed as sprains, and the lifting, pushing or pulling of sacks. However, due to numerous confounding factors, further conclusions were not possible.
Descriptors (primary) United Kingdom; physical workload; musculoskeletal diseases; manual handling; frequency rates; food industry; dairy industry; non-alcoholic beverage industry; breweries
Descriptors (secondary) literature survey; lifting of loads; pulling tasks; statistical evaluation; pushing tasks; ergonomics; confounding factors; report
Document type E - Books, reports, proceedings
Country / State or ProvinceUnited Kingdom
Subject(s) Materials handling and storage
Broad subject area(s) Industries and occupations
Browse category(ies) Diseases of the musculoskeletal system
Food industry
Beverage industry